Western donors agree on new aid package for Armenia

Western donor states and international organizations pledged on 20 October to provide Armenia with up to $350 million in new loans and aid by the end of 2001, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported, quoting Armenian Finance and Economy Minister Levon Barkhudarian. The World Bank will provide some $75 million of that total. At the same time, the donors called on the Armenian government to take "more resolute action to remove constraints on private sector development and privatization, to improve the rule of law" and to develop the health, education and social services sectors. They also expressed concern at the ongoing failure to meet revenue collection targets. LF
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